Damper for ventilating air flow control for indoor open-air cooking device

ABSTRACT

Positionable damper means for directional air flow control over an open cooking surface of a stove or broiler. The damper means is adaptable for positioning to determine air flow velocity and directional entrance into an air exhausting plenum chamber, and is selectively positionable to completely close the entrance to the plenum and thereby prevent back draft of outside air into a room.

Sept. 4, 1973 United States Patent [1 1 Field Cero1a..... 2/1940Reed................. 5/1949 Maynard et 21]... 11/1967 6/1971 1 DAMPERFOR VENTILATING AIR FLOW CONTROL FOR INDOOR OPEN-AIR COOKING DEVICE [75]Inventor: Thomas R. Field, Indianapolis, Ind.

Assignee: Jenn-Air Corporation, lndianapolis,

Ind.

[22] Filed: Nov. 23, 1971 Primary ExaminerMeyer Perlin [21] App]. No.:201,437

Assistant Examiner-Ronald C. Capossela Attorney-Harold R. Woodard 8 m men mb mam fl nff m m C 6 mmb i d m uD. T PS8 hasm A .m m n a S 6 B m e Anm e mi. m m mma d at aofi n .m fl .mfl 7 s 0 0f. WIND-Cb 0 0 0m 4 4 3/52 Q 9 9 7 2 1 M 2 ew M 29 8 0 m R m m 1 7 mu4 B 6 U 2 WHB l "00 NW Nmm? m W0 mu2 L H C 10 S U .m m 11. 2 8 5 to determine air flow velocityand directional entrance into an air exhausting plenum chamber, and isselec- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS tively positionableto completely close the entrance to the plenum and thereby preventlbackdraft of outside air into a room.

5 Chums, 7 Drawlng Figures 267/147 /105 X 4/1972Freggens..........,............... 165/105 X PATENTED SEP 4 I975 SHEET 1OF 2 Fig.3

DAMPER FOR VENTILATING AIR FLOW CONTROL FOR INDOOR OPEN-AIR COOKINGDEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apositionable damper means for controlling ventilating air flow acrossthe surface of a stove or open indoor broiler. More specifically itrelates to a positionable damper for use at the entrance of an airplenum chamber adjacent a cooking or broiling surface. The air plenumchamber has an entrance thereto adjacent the broiling or cookingsurfaces and is in communication with power driven fan means forcollecting smoke and cooking fumes and exhausting them through ductingextending through a building wall to the atmosphere.

The invention relates to a positionable damper for improved volume anddirectional ventilating air flow across stoves and broilers of the typedisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,444,805; 3,474,724; 3,587,555 or3,596,650.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this inventionto,provide positionable damper means for controlling ventilating airacross the surface of a stoveor open broiler.

It is another object of this invention to provide damper means forcontrolling air direction volume and velocity from across the surface ofa stove or open broiler.

It is still another object to provide the damper means at the entranceto an air plenum chamber into which smoke from broiling meats or cookingfumes are collected for being exhausted to the atmosphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more fullyunderstood and further objects and advantages thereof will becomeapparent when reference is made to the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiment of the invention and the accom-panying drawingsin which:

FIG. I is a perspective of an air ventilated counter top drop-in typeopen air broiler showing the positionable air control damper in an openposition;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the broiler shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a more detailed illustration of the positionable damper at theopening to the air plenum;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of an air ventilated counter topdrop-in type range and broiler combination having a dual positionabledamper;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a drop-in type range, open broilerand oven having an air ventilating arrangement and positionable damperstherefor;

FIG. 6 is a more detailed illustration of a dual positionable damper atthe opening to the air plenum; and

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of a dualpositionable damper at the opening to the air plenum.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 there isshown in perspective view a counter top drop-in type open surfacebroiler identified generally by the numeral 10. A crosssectional view isshown in FIG. 2. The broiler is comprised generally of a broilingportion and an adjacent plenum chamber having power driven fan exhaustmeans associated therewith. A frame includes a box or chamber 12defining a recess (preferably of sheet metal) adapted to be receivedwithin the counter top. This chamber receives an inner chamber 14 whichin turn houses electric heating or broiling elements 22. Inner chamber14 is secured within chamber 12 but spaced from the walls thereof in amanner to lessen heat transfer to chamber 12 and to a kitchen counter. Avent opening 16 is provided in the bottom of chamber 12 and anotheropening 18 extends through a common wall into an air plenum chamber.These openings are for the purpose of permitting air to be forciblydrawn through the space between chambers 12 and 14 for cooling thebottom and side: walls of the inner chamber. The frame includes asurrounding shoulder 20 (which also surrounds plenum chamber 34) forsupporting the broiling device within a cut-out portion of cabinet top21.

A cast plate 24, having numerous vertical openings 26 therethrough and arough upper surface resembling grill rock or briquettes, is supportedabove the bottom of inner chamber 14. A wire loop 28 secured to .plate24 supports electric elements 22 in proper position. An open grill 29overlies the opening to chamber 14 for supporting meat thereon in properspaced relationship above electric heating or broiling elements 22.

Grease and juices exuding from broiling meat fall onto plate 24 and passthrough openings 26 onto the sloping bottom of chamber 14. They flowthrough openings 30 and 32 into a container 36 such as a common fruitjar removably screwed into a lid having an opening therethrough in linewith openings 30 and 32.

A sheet metal box having wall 34 to one side of the broiling portiondefines an air plenum which has an upper entrance disposed substantiallyon a level with the grill 29. Electric motor 40 drives an exhaust fan 38which is in communication with opening 42 in the plenum for drawingsmoke and cooking fumes from across the grill into the plenumandexhausting them through ducting (not shown) through a building wallto the atmosphere.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate arrangement of adrop-in-type counter top unit similar to that disclosed in FIG. 1,except that it is a combination or dual unit. It has an open broiler onone side and plural heating elements 1 12 on the other. A plenum chamberidentified generally by the numeral 134 is located between the cookingsurface means, and is provided with dual hinges for carryingindependently positionable damper means 152, 152..

The disclosure in FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a drop-in typerange, broiler and oven combination. The arrangement is very similar tothe disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,555. On one side is located anopen broiler 129 and on the other side is located plural cooking units112. A plenum 134' is disposed intermediate the cooking surface meanslocated on either side thereof. The arrangement of plenum 134' isdisclosed herein only very generally but if further detailedunderstanding is required reference should be made to U.S. Pat. No.3,587,555.

Description will now be directed to the positionable damper meanslocated at the entrance to the plenum chamber. A single damperarrangement is illustrated in FIG. 3 for a plenum for use with a singlecooking or broiling surface as disclosed for example in FIG. 1. The

plenum walls 34 as shown in FIG. 3 terminate in an opening substantiallyon a level with the top of the housing frame which carries the cookingor broiling means. A rectangular frame 50 is adapted to be positioned atthe entrance to plenum 34 and have a portion received therein. Damper 52is hingedly carried by pins to one side of the frame in a manner for itto pivot thereabout for controlling the side opening and directionalentrance into the plenum. Damper 52 is hingedly retained as for exampleby pins 54 frictionally tight so that it is adapted to remain in anydesired position. A link bar 56 carried between damper 52 and the plenumor frame is adapted to limit the angle or extent to which the damper maybe opened. The angle at which the damper is set determines size of theopening and thus the velocity of air entering the plenum as well as thedirection from which the air is drawn. Since the purpose of moving theair is to collect smoke from broiling meats and other cooking odors, themost desirable setting of the damper can be determined byexperimentation. For example, an opening of one size may be found bestfor collecting smoke from broiling meat located on grill 29 near theplenum, and another opening best for broiling on the other side of thegrill. The same applies to the opening facing cooking units 112. Thesettings also depend to some extent upon drafts and other air currentswithin the kitchen itself. Additionally, it has been found that bydirectional control of entering air, a smaller volume of air can be usedmore efficiently than a larger volume without any entering directionalcontrol. The setting of the dampers for optimum effectiveness permitsmore efficient use of the exhaust fan capacity.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 there are shown dual dampers, each being directedtoward an adjacent cooking or broiling surface. The details areillustrated more adequately in FIG. 6 wherein a rectangular frame 150has a lower portion removably received in the upper portion of thechamber 134 which defines the plenum. Frame 150 pivotally carries a pairof oppositely facing dampers 152, 152. by means such as pins 154. Thesepins are preferably frictionally tight so that the damper will stay inthe position to which they are manually placed. A pair of bar links 156,connected between the dampers (FIG. 6) and frame 150, determine theangular extent to which the dampers may be raised. As referred to above,the relative position of the dampers regulates the volume of airentering the plenum, its velocity and direction from over the adjacentcooking or broiling surface. Both dampers may be open, as desired, whenbroiling and cooking is being conducted simultaneously on either sidethereof. Or, for even more air passage over one surface, such as thebroiling surface, the opposite damper may be closed altogether. Again,the user may by experimentation determine damper setting best suited forvariable conditions of broiling or other cooking, and for counteractingany air movement or draft conditions in the house.

An alternative form of damper arrangement is disclosed in FIG. 7. Aplenum chamber 234 has an entrance adapted to removably receive a pairof dampers 252, 252' in much the same manner as in FIG. 6. The dampersare pivotally carried by pins 254 preferably in tight frictionalrelationship to permit their manual positioning. The dampers are mountedon a frame 256 which carry depending portions 258 on either end adaptedfor frictional engagement with opposite ends of plenum walls 134. AsFIG. 7 illustrates, the sides of the dampers are partially cut away at aslight angle and the ends facing the cooking surfaces are open and evenupturned. The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent complete closureto the entrance to the plenum even when the dampers are in theirlowermost position. This amounts to a safety feature whereby theentrance to the plenum is never completely closed. Electrical controls65, such as on-off and temperature switches, are wired for simultaneousenergizations with the broiling elements or surface cooking units andexhaust fan 38. The upturned ends 260 on the dampers are for air flowcontrol. It will be appreciated that the dampers in FIG. 7 arepositionable in substantially the same manner as in FIG. 6. In the eventeither or both dampers 252, 252' are closed to the full line positionshown in FIG. 7 while the elements and fan 38 are energized, air isstill permitted to pass into the plenum, thus preventing overheating.

While I have disclosed several forms of my invention, the scope of myinvention is to be interpreted by the claims appended hereto. Obviousvariations can be made to the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cooking device including a frame having upwardly facing cookingsurface and comprising:

air ventilation means associated with the cooking device and including aplenum chamber having an entrance adjacent said cooking surface andsubstantially on a level therewith,

power driven fan means associated with the plenum for drawing air fromacross said cooking surface into the plenum for collecting smoke andcooking fumes for exhausting them through ducting adapted to extendthrough a building wall to the atmosphere,

a manually positionable damper hinged adjacent said plenum chamberentrance and adapted for movement to various inclining positions fordefining the effective size of said plenum chamber entrance and thedirection from which air moves into said entrance to thereby control thevolume and direction of the air flow across said cooking surface.

2. The invention according to claim I wherein said cooking surfaceincludes portions on opposite sides of said plenum chamber entrance andthe damper is formed of two independently movable vanes positionable forselectively drawing air from across either or both cooking surfaces ingreater or reduced volume.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein a stop is provided forlimiting the extent of pivotal movement of the damper.

4. The invention according to claim I wherein said damper is adapted formovement to a position for substantially closing the entrance to theplenum.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein a portion of the damper isshaped to admit air to the plenum entrance even when in closed position.

*, I! i l I.

1. A cooking device including a frame having upwardly facing cookingsurface and comprising: air ventilation means associated with thecooking device and including a plenum chamber having an entranceadjacent said cooking surface and substantially on a level therewith,power driven fan means associated with the plenum for drawing air fromacross said cooking surface into the plenum for collecting smoke andcooking fumes for exhausting them through ducting adapted to extendthrough a building wall to the atmosphere, a manually positionabledamper hinged adjacent said plenum chamber entrance and adapted formovement to various inclining positions for defining the effective sizeof said plenum chamber entrance and the direction from which air movesinto said entrance to thereby control the volume and direction of theair flow across said cooking surface.
 2. The invention according toclaim 1 wherein said cooking surface includes portions on opposite sidesof said plenum chamber entrance and the damper is formed of twoindependently movable vanes positionable for selectively drawing airfrom across either or both cooking surfaces in greater or reducedvolume.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein a stop is providedfor limiting the extent of pivotal movement of the damper.
 4. Theinvention according to claim 1 wherein said damper is adapted formovement to a position for substantially closing the entrance to theplenum.
 5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein a portion of thedamper is shaped to admit air to the plenum entrance even when in closedposition.